MAKING GREEN IN 2014 !!

If you were smart enough to run with our picks then you made some serious green to kickoff 2014. So now you have some extra cash for those back-to-school expenses or, perhaps, something shiny for that special someone, and maybe for the wife, too.

Starting last Thursday, we've had one of the best launches to a new college season in recent memory. Even some of the games not included in our Great Eight™ were pretty entertaining and enlightening like Bama-WVU with the sideline drama of Saban stalking Kiffin. Such a great start can only mean that 2014 is going to be a season to remember, and a season to Make Mo' Money.

So, how'd we do?

Off to an awesome start, right?

There's an old saying in business, "money talks, bull$hxt walks."

A quick glance at the nifty chart to the right says it all. Of our eight picks, we hit on 7 of 8. Pretty darn good, if we can say so ourselves. So come on, peeps, show us some love.

There's no questions that we missed on the South Carolina loss to Texas A&M. But we weren't alone. Several million $$$ went the other way with that surprise in Columbia. But hey! That's what you gotta love about college football. And if we've learned anything over the last couple of years of doing Woolard's Weekend Winners, you have to take the long view of sports gaming, not just a quick in and out.

Weekend Rewind

Hey, I'm undefeated.

Tennessee looked exceptionally sharp with their passing game, and very quick and aggressive on defense. We were spot on with their receiving group being a difference. But we're not ready to drink a gallon of Big Orange kool aid yet but we like what we saw in the Vols 38-7 win over Utah State. The test comes when they face real competition...like Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama. Then we'll see how many of those bricks that Butch keeps talking about come flying through his office window (ala Bill Curry at Alabama). Key number to ponder: Tennessee played 21 true freshmen.

If the second half of the Georgia game is any indication of how the butt sniffers will do in future matches, then the future bodes well for the red and black as they pulled out a win over a pretty tenacious Clemson team, 45-21. And before anyone says it, no, Gurley is not the next Hershel Walker. At least not yet, although he logged some pretty stellar numbers. For the record, though, the refs missed a clear block in the back on Gurley's kickoff return that went 100+ yards.

Tell me again why I left Wisconsin.

The Auburn game went pretty much as planned as the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen/Dying Oaks took care of business and poked Bret Bielema's Hogs in the eye with 45-21 win. Nothing more to add here, except we suggest that Bielema wear goggles next time.

The LSU Tigers played like kittens in the first half but turned it up a few notches in the second stanza as Anthony Jennings (Marietta Blue Devils) found his groove and LSU scored 21 unanswered points to pull out a 28-24 win. His back up got a few snaps and looked horrible. So Jennings has the job at least until Less Smiles changes his mind, which is often.

Florida State did everything they could to squander a 17-0 lead, but held on to beat Oklahoma State, 37-31. The cowpokes were 19 point underdogs but apparently they never got that memo. The Noles won ugly but this game should be a cautionary tale if FSU wants to return to Jerry's World in January.

Don't look now but Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace just threw another INT. Just when we thought QB Bo could play consistently, he throws three picks in the first 30 minutes of play versus Boise State. Despite his shortcomings, the Rebels/Black Rebel Bears/Rebel Black Bears turned up the heat in the fourth quarter to put the game away, 35-13.

If you were missing Johnny Manziel then you have to be excited about the new Texas A&M quarterback, Kenny Hill. In his very first start, Kenny Football threw for over 500 yards in his debut as South Carolina gave up a school-record 680 total yards. How would you like to be the Carolina defensive coordinator this week?

We pretty much nailed the Louisville-Miami contest with the Cardinal quarterback, Will Gardner, outplaying the Cane's quarterback as Petrino's crew won, 31-13. While the Louisville offense seemed pretty solid, the defense stepped up in limiting Miami to just 244 total yards and 70 net rushing yards. Al Golden will have a couple of softies the next two weeks (Florida A&M and Arky State) to right the ship before they travel to Nebraska.

Drop us a line to let us know how you fared this weekend. And if you have a suggestion for upcoming games let's hear from you. Have a winning week!

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK